Celebrate Asian culture, food and businesses in Knoxville at the new AAPI Night Market

Devarrick Turner, Knoxville News Sentinel
·2 min read

More than 20 Asian food trucks and vendors are coming together during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate culture and have fun.

Play games, get a henna tattoo and enjoy other activities while snacking on Korean corndogs, Taiwanese tamales, egg tarts, Asian-inspired empanadas, sushi, bubble tea and more at Knoxville’s first-ever AAPI Night Market.

The family-friendly event will be 6-9 p.m. May 19 at Hi-Wire Brewing, 2020 Barber St. in South Knoxville. It is presented by the Knox AAPI Business Association and organized by Jessica Carr, the owner of Knoxville’s first Asian bakery, Girls Gotta Eat Good, and Vic Scott, co-owner of Seoul Brothers restaurant.

Seoul Brothers co-owner Vic Scott and Girls Gotta Eat Good owner Jessica Carr have teamed up, once again, to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The first AAPI Night Market is May 19, 2023 at Hi-Wire Brewing in South Knoxville.
Seoul Brothers co-owner Vic Scott and Girls Gotta Eat Good owner Jessica Carr have teamed up, once again, to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The first AAPI Night Market is May 19, 2023 at Hi-Wire Brewing in South Knoxville.

“We are very excited for this event! What better way to immerse yourself in East Tennessee’s thriving AAPI community than through food, fun and friends,” Scott said in a press release.

“For many Asian-owned businesses, getting exposure and support for their business is a challenge,” Carr added. “Through this event, we hope we can increase sales and exposure for these Knox-area Asian-owned businesses.”

Lifting up Asian-owned local businesses

Carr and Scott started the Knox AAPI Business Association to “lift up and support AAPI businesses in the Greater Knoxville Area through events and business resources.” This is the organization's first event.

After feeling like AAPI was largely overlooked locally, Carr and Scott teamed up last year to change that. They led a monthlong scavenger hunt across the city with the intention of sharing information about Asian culture in a fun way while also supporting Asian-owned businesses.

Businesses owned by people of color and queer-owned businesses will be featured at the AAPI Night Market as well.

Admission to the AAPI Night Market on May 19 is free. You can find more information on its Facebook event page or follow @knoxaapi on Instagram.

Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com. Twitter @dturner1208.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: AAPI Night Market in Knoxville is a new event with food and vendors